Another theory about Force India’s absence from a practice session in Bahrain last weekend has emerged.

Word has it the Silverstone based team sat out the second session on Friday because staff were spooked by a Molotov cocktail incident and didn’t want to be returning to their hotels in darkness.

Officially, Force India said the decision to skip a practice session was for “logistical reasons”.

“None of the other teams seem to have a problem,” said Bernie Ecclestone last weekend. “Maybe (it’s) nothing to do with being in this country, maybe it’s something else.”

An event summary by Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport said: “There are rumours that Force India wanted to save its engines because they are short on cash.”

The team’s Bahrain crisis was handled by deputy chief Bob Fernley, in the absence of owner and principal Vijay Mallya.

Indeed, Indian Mallya does seem to have bigger problems, with the latest reports indicating he is considering selling 26 per cent of his flagship spirits company in order to rescue his dying airline Kingfisher.

A spokesman for JM Financial, representing Mallya, dismissed the suggestion as “factually incorrect and speculative”.

Sahara Force India looks ahead to the third round of the 2012 season in Shanghai, China. To download the full PDF preview or the media schedule for the weekend, please click on the links below.

Vijay’s Vision

After two races the 2012 season appears to have all the ingredients needed to serve up a spectacular year of racing. Already the fans have enjoyed two thrilling races and the intensity of the competition across the grid is sure to capture everybody’s attention.

I said last year that the competition in the midfield was close, but this year it seems to be even more so with the majority of the grid capable of fighting for points. It’s a good situation for Formula One, but it also means points are harder to come by. It’s encouraging that we have scored points in both races and that will be our aim once again in China.

I have to congratulate Paul and Nico on their excellent drives in Malaysia. They are only in their second full seasons of Formula One, but they both showed their maturity in the difficult conditions. At times Paul was one of the fastest cars on the circuit, excelling in the conditions, and it’s clear that we can expect another strong season from him. I was also delighted to see Nico pick up his first points with us after such a strong showing.

In terms of car development, the factory at Silverstone continues to work at full capacity to improve our performance. The first two races have given us a great deal of information to work with and we will put it to good use in the coming races.

Dr. Vijay Mallya

Paul on Shanghai
Following points finishes in the first couple of races, Paul Di Resta sets his sights on more of the same in Shanghai this weekend.

Paul, you must be pretty happy with your start to the season…
I think the whole team is pleased to have nine points on the board after two races and it was important that we picked up some good points on such an unpredictable day in Malaysia. We’ve seen how close all the teams are this year and getting points isn’t easy, so it feels good to start as we mean to continue.

Do you enjoy visiting China and experiencing the different culture?
China is a great place and Shanghai is a city I enjoy visiting. It’s such a big place, there is a lot to see and I enjoy it even more each time I go there.

Tell us about the track…
It has some unusual features. Turn one is very long and feels like it goes on forever. The key to getting it right is how much entry speed you can carry into the corner. You also have to look out for one of the biggest bumps of the year at the corner entry, which makes it difficult.

And what about the overtaking opportunities?
The best chance is turn one or into the very tight hairpin of turn 14, which widens on the entry and makes it difficult to defend. We also saw the effectiveness of DRS last year, which helped produce some good racing and it should be the same this year.

Nico on Shanghai
Nico Hulkenberg looks ahead to racing in Shanghai following his points finish in Malaysia.

Nico, after the disappointment of Melbourne, you finally got some racing miles under your belt in Sepang…
Yes, I’m happy with the race we had in Malaysia, which was basically the first proper race I have done since the end of 2010. It wasn’t an easy race and I was never in any clean air, but it was good to pick up a couple of points – my first points for the team.

Did you learn much about the car given that the conditions were so changeable in Sepang?
You always learn something and a race distance is always valuable for your knowledge of the car, even racing in the wet. The most difficult part of the race was just after the restart when I struggled for balance on the wets and intermediates, but when I switched to slicks the performance was pretty good.

Does the team have a better idea of the pecking order yet?
We’re only at the start of the season – we’ve only had two race weekends, so we still need to wait and see. Because the midfield is so compact nobody can afford to relax. We all need to push hard to improve performance and with 18 races still to go there’s plenty of time to do that.

What are your thoughts ahead of this weekend’s race in China?
It’s not my favourite race of the year, but they’ve done a good job to build a really impressive facility and it’s a fun track to drive. It’s difficult to predict how well we will do there, but given how close the grid is at the moment I think it should be a good show for everyone who is watching.

Years after F1′s ‘spygate’ sagas, the issue could be set to return to the very top of the governing body’s agenda.

Force India claims Caterham and their common former wind tunnel partner Aerolab were this week “found liable” by a British court of using Force India data for the Team Lotus car of early 2010.

Vijay Mallya’s Silverstone based team said the ruling has been “referred for the consideration” of the FIA.

But Aerolab has hit back, insisting the judge “entirely rejected” Force India’s charge of “systematic copying”.

“On the contrary, such misuse as I have found to have occurred mainly consisted of opportunistic copying of CAD files by CAD designers in order to take a short cut,” the wind tunnel company quoted judge Justice Arnold as saying.

Nonetheless, Caterham was ordered to pay EUR 25,000 to Force India, but not the 18 million requested by the team.

“We were deeply disappointed with the damages award,” Force India deputy team principal Robert Fernley told the Guardian.

He said Caterham/Aerolab did not make a simple “short cut” in copying the CAD files, but copied “front and rear break duct systems, the front wing, the rear wing, the barge boards, the vortex generators and the diffuser”.

“The judge might say it’s not systematic but in my view it’s pretty extensive,” added Fernley.

Force India is expected to appeal.

And if the FIA intervenes and charges Caterham with theft, “it would cost Caterham tens of millions for the money they received for finishing tenth in the world championship for the past two years”, wrote Guardian correspondent Paul Weaver.

“And that is before any fine.”

 Force India has been ordered by a British court to pay over a million dollars.
With team boss Vijay Mallya already in financial strife over his collapsing airline Kingfisher, his Silverstone based team must now pay Italian wind tunnel Aerolab.

The high court judge on Wednesday said the amount, which according to the Daily Telegraph will skyrocket to over $6 million once legal costs are added, is for unpaid fees following a copyright dispute with Aerolab and Caterham.

The newspaper said the bill could be the final straw for struggling Mallya, who may now cede control of Force India to 42.5 per cent shareholder Subrata Roy, another Indian billionaire.

But Force India hit back in a media statement on Wednesday by revealing that Aerolab and its client Caterham were found “liable for copyright infringement”.

“Some parts created using Force India confidential information were used on the Team Lotus race cars in the early part of the 2010 season,” it read.

Force India said it has referred the court’s ruling to the FIA.

 Nico Hulkenberg has played down the link between Vijay Mallya’s struggling Indian airline Kingfisher and the billionaire’s formula one team Force India.
According to mainstream media reports, debt-ridden and loss-making Kingfisher is on the brink of collapse.

And new speculation swirling in the Melbourne paddock this weekend suggests the situation could affect Silverstone based Force India.

“The rumours are nothing new,” the team’s new race driver Nico Hulkenberg told Frankfurter Rundschau newspaper.

“The problems (with Kingfisher) have been there for over a year. But it’s nothing to do with us, it’s another business — this is formula one, not an airline,” said the German.

“I can’t judge what is happening to his business. I just know that he (Mallya) is still motivated and for sure will be here for many races,” added Hulkenberg, who qualified ninth for Sunday’s Australian grand prix.

India’s Economic Times this week reported that Mallya has pumped an extra $32 million into Force India via his personal investment company Watson and the sponsorship of Kingfisher’s beer and spirit arm.

Adrian Sutil is expecting to know within weeks if he has a race seat at Force India next year.
Amid reports team boss Vijay Mallya has already signed Nico Hulkenberg to replace him next year, German Sutil hit out at the scheduled plans to only announce the 2012 lineup in mid December.

“I can’t wait until December,” said the 28-year-old early this week.

Mallya responded on Friday: “If he wants an early decision I will give (it to) him.”

Sutil explained to F1′s official website: “The announcement can be done in December, but as a driver I need a decision before that as I want to secure my future in formula one.

“That is why I am trying to get a decision in the next two to three weeks, to make sure that I am also racing in formula one in 2012.”

 Vijay Mallya has promised to speed up his decision about Force India’s 2012 lineup.
Long-time team regular Adrian Sutil has expressed concern at growing speculation that Friday driver Nico Hulkenberg will move up to be Paul di Resta’s teammate next season.

But boss Mallya has insisted until now that he will only announce Force India’s next lineup in mid December.

“I speak to my drivers first before media and if he (Sutil) wants an early decision I will give (it to) him,” he is quoted by the Press Trust of India.

“Media has always criticised me that I can’t do anything but results are there for everyone to see and I don’t need to explain anything to anyone,” he added.

Nico Hulkenberg and Paul di Resta are refusing to believe they will definitely front Force India’s race driver lineup in 2012.
It is now expected that the team’s long-time regular Adrian Sutil may have to seek alternate employment, with Friday driver Hulkenberg set to step up to the race seat alongside rookie Scot di Resta.

“There are quite a few rumours going on. At the moment, that is what they are,” admitted Hulkenberg in Delhi this week.

“A decision has not yet been taken,” said the 24-year-old, referring to his boss Vijay Mallya’s scheduled announcement in mid December. “I’m waiting for that day.

“Hopefully, the association (with Force India) will be a good one and I look to a good future with them.”

Even di Resta, Sutil’s current race teammate, is not feeling comfortable.

“It (the December announcement) does play on your mind, I won’t deny it,” he told the Guardian. “You have got to keep showing the results, maybe show them even a bit more.”

Adrian Sutil insists he has not been ousted by Force India.
Reports are growing strength that the German, who has been with the Silverstone based team since its Spyker days, will be replaced in the race seat next year by Nico Hulkenberg.

Boss Vijay Mallya, however, will not be making the 2012 driver announcement until mid December.

“Vijay has told me that there has been no decision yet and that the (Hulkenberg) news is not right.

“I have no reason to disbelieve him as he has always been open and honest with me,” Sutil told Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport.

The magazine, however, is convinced that Sutil’s “marriage to his long-time employer seems over”, with new team co-owner Sahara meaning Force India is “no longer dependent on Sutil’s sponsors”.

His only alternative for 2012 appears to be Williams, with Sutil’s manager Manfred Zimmermann reportedly ruling out a switch to Lotus, Virgin or HRT.

Renault has a vacancy for next year, but Sutil remains locked in a legal dispute with that team’s co-owner Eric Lux.

For its driver choice, Williams is in a position of luxury, with Sutil but also Rubens Barrichello and apparently Kimi Raikkonen all keen on the seat alongside Pastor Maldonado.

Auto Motor und Sport said 2007 world champion Raikkonen has tired of rallying, has some sponsorship in tow and is “training hard” for his F1 comeback.

“A quick decision by Williams, as hoped for by Sutil, is not likely,” said the German report.

Adrian Sutil on Monday warned he might walk away from Force India before the team has decided its 2012 driver lineup.
Reports in recent days have suggested team boss Vijay Mallya has already settled on pairing Paul di Resta alongside Nico Hulkenberg next season.

That would leave the experienced German Sutil out in the cold, but the 28-year-old has been spotted recently at Williams’ Grove headquarters.

Mallya has said Force India’s 2012 drivers will not be announced until very late this year.

“I can’t wait until December,” Indian media reports quote Sutil as saying.

“I will speak to him soon and see what his ideas are. I don’t need to wait so long for a seat.

“I think I know what I can do, so I don’t feel insecure,” he added.

(reuters) According to Sauber chief executive Monisha Kaltenborn. Her Swiss-based team are sponsored by dairy company Amul for Sunday’s Delhi race and she suggested other Indian firms might also now see the sport as part of a bigger picture rather than just focusing on one or two local drivers at the slow end of the grid.

“In India, all these years, it’s been so difficult to get a sponsor from the country,” the Indian-born Kaltenborn told Reuters in an interview.

“India has got such big brands and the market is huge and still people have been very cautious to get into Formula One.

“It wasn’t that easy (for a team) to get a brand from India without having any link to a (local) driver. So I think it’s all the more remarkable a brand (like Amul) has done this and I hope a lot more will follow now,” added Kaltenborn.

Narain Karthikeyan is the only Indian to have scored points in Formula One, with the now-defunct Jordan team in 2005, and he will be back on the starting grid with struggling HRT for Sunday’s race at the Buddh International circuit.

While he has healthy support from industrial giants Tata and Hero Motors, Karthikeyan will still be languishing among the tailenders.

Spanish-owned HRT have yet to score a point since their debut in 2010 and Karthikeyan’s is likely to be a one-off home appearance after he was dropped to make way for Australian rookie Daniel Ricciardo.

Karun Chandhok, India’s other F1 driver, is now only a reserve at Team Lotus – also yet to score a point.

Sauber have Mexican Sergio Perez and Japan’s Kamui Kobayashi as their drivers and are battling against Force India for sixth place in the constructor championship.

Force India, owned by liquor and aviation tycoon Vijay Mallya along with Indian business conglomerate Sahara Group, do not have Indian drivers either.

“Maybe more (Indian companies) will follow that don’t necessarily just look for the link with the driver,” continued Kaltenborn, an Austrian citizen who is married to a German and lives in Switzerland.

“Here it’s the team, the people, the drivers, the key personnel. I think if one brand is prepared to associate themselves with the team, and a team name, I hope it gives others the kick as well to do that.”

Kaltenborn said the arrival of India on what is now a 19-race global calendar provided a direct link with the public for local companies to build on.

“Since cricket is so big (in India) it takes a lot now for a company to say ‘No, we choose the platform of Formula One’,” she said.

“Until there was a race there was not really a link to the sport. Now with the first race being staged there they have a direct link, they can use it in their prime market.

“It could be the start of something to attract more Indian partners into the sport.”

Many of those companies may not have products to sell outside India but the likes of Sauber are hoping they will wake up to what the sport can provide in increasing brand visibility to a growing domestic audience who watch the races on television.

Indian telecom giant Bharti Airtel has already signed up for the race title sponsorship.

Kaltenborn, who was born in Dehradun and whose parents emigrated to Austria in 1979 when she was eight, looked forward to going to a race in a country where she had a personal as well as professional connection.

“I think it’s going to be really great,” she said.

“Suddenly the media attention and also from the people has just ramped up whereas half a year ago it was not that much. It has just suddenly come. I think that tells you what dimension this event is going to have.”

 Paul di Resta is not sure if the news of Force India’s part-sale will affect his future.
Boss Vijay Mallya – who now owns an equal 42.5 per cent share in the Silverstone based team rather than a majority, controlling stake – announced recently that he will not decide the 2012 driver lineup until mid December.

The fact the decision will be taken so late had raised eyebrows within the F1 paddock, so whether the deadline still stands now that Sahara’s Subrato Roy is now also in charge is not known.

“At this point I don’t know how the structure will work within the team,” rookie Scot di Resta is quoted as saying in Korea by the AFP news agency.

He said he knows Mallya remains team principal for now.

“The team have said they’re going to do it (the driver decision) in December. Whenever they want to do it, they will do it,” he added.

Despite boss Vijay Mallya’s recent denials, the part-sale of Silverstone based Force India was confirmed late on Wednesday.

The team will be renamed Sahara Force India, the Indian billionaire sitting alongside conglomerate Sahara India’s Subrata Roy announced in a Delhi hotel.

“On behalf of the Force India team, I am delighted to announce this partnership,” said Mallya.

“Sahara India will invest 100 million dollars and will have a 42.5 per cent equity share,” he revealed, according to Indian commercial broadcaster NDTV.

 Reports that Vijay Mallya is selling his formula one team Force India will not go away.
When the original reports emerged last week, the Indian billionaire issued two strident denials.

“No question of my getting out of Force India,” he said, when the Asian Age newspaper cited sources that said the buyer is Indian conglomerate Sahara, with a deal “on the verge of being finalised”.

And in a vehement media statement, Mallya later added: “I was shocked to read a media report that I am selling the Force India team. This is completely untrue and without any basis whatsoever.”

But on Wednesday more reports emerged, with CNBC saying the Sahaha deal “will be inked shortly”.

“Mallya is likely to address (the) media later on Wednesday”, the report added.

And the Press Trust of India added: “The two corporate honchos (Mallya and Sahara’s Subrata Roy) will sign an agreement today, which will be followed by an official announcement this evening, according to sources”.

Spokespeople for Force India and Sahara declined to comment.